Communication device and sensor device

Abstract

This communication device performs communication using power generated by a solar panel (11). The communication device includes: a housing; the solar panel that is provided to one surface of the housing; and recessed grooves (15) or holes (15) provided at the periphery of the solar panel.

Description

Communication device and sensor device CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-214166, filed on December 19, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to devices constituting a wireless communication network system that transmits data detected by a sensor device to a server device via a transmitter, a relay device, and a gateway device.

[0003] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a technique is known in which various data are collected, stored, and utilized by transmitting data collected in a remote location using a low-power long-distance wireless communication system such as LPWA (Low Power Wide Area).

[0004] However, even with LPWA, radio waves may not reach the area due to terrain or obstacles, but this can be solved by using a repeater device.

[0005] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a communication terminal that transmits detection information detected by a sensor, a relay device that relays the detection information, and a gateway device that transmits the relayed detection information to a server via the Internet.

[0006] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-5137

[0007] The inventors of the present application have found the following problem. When collecting outdoor information, the sensor device, transmitter device, relay device, and gateway device are basically installed outdoors. When the devices are installed outdoors, measures are required to address issues such as a decrease in power generation function due to spider webs being formed, the wireless communication environment at the installation location of each device, and water entering the device due to rain or snow.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide devices that can achieve at least one of the following even when installed outdoors: (1) Prevention of a decrease in power generation function due to spider webs being formed, (2) Maintenance of a wireless communication environment at the installation location of each device, and (3) Improvement of waterproofing against rain and snow.

[0009] A communication device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a communication device that communicates using power generated by a solar panel, and has: a housing; the solar panel provided on one side of the housing; and a concave groove or hole provided around the solar panel.

[0010] It should be noted that the claims and the numbers in parentheses attached to the constituent elements of the invention described in this section indicate the correspondence between the present invention and the embodiments described below, and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0011] According to the present invention, even when each device is installed outdoors, at least one of the following can be achieved: (1) Prevention of a decrease in power generation function due to spider webs being formed, (2) Maintenance of a wireless communication environment at the installation location of each device, and (3) Improvement of waterproofing against rain and snow.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a wireless communication network system according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the appearance and installation status of each device constituting the wireless communication network system according to the first embodiment; FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the configuration of a groove in a communication device according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a groove in a communication device according to the first embodiment; FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating other examples of grooves and examples of holes in a communication device according to the first embodiment; FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the structure of an antenna in a communication device according to the first embodiment, and the relationship between the communication device and a pole; FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the configuration and function of a pole ring arm in a communication device or a sensor device according to the first embodiment; 1 is a left side view of a transmitter that is a communication device of embodiment 1; FIG. 1 is a reference perspective view of a transmitter that is a communication device of embodiment 1; FIG. 2 is a front view of a relay device or a GW device that is a communication device of embodiment 1; FIG. 3 is a back view of a relay device or a GW device that is a communication device of embodiment 1; FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a relay device or a GW device that is a communication device of embodiment 1; FIG. 5 is a right side view of a relay device or a GW device that is a communication device of embodiment 1; FIG. 6 is a left side view of a relay device or a GW device that is a communication device of embodiment 1; FIG. 7 is a reference perspective view of a relay device or a GW device that is a communication device of embodiment 1; FIG. 8 is a front view of a sensor device that is a communication device of embodiment 1; FIG. 9 is a back view of a sensor device that is a communication device of embodiment 1; FIG. 10 is a bottom view of a sensor device that is a communication device of embodiment 1; FIG. 11 is a right side view of a sensor device that is a communication device of embodiment 1; FIG. 12 is a left side view of a sensor device that is a communication device of embodiment 1; FIG. 13 is a reference perspective view of a sensor device that is a communication device of embodiment 1;

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] The present invention refers to the invention described in the claims and is not limited to the following embodiments. Furthermore, at least the words in quotation marks refer to the words described in the claims and are not limited to the following embodiments.

[0015] The configurations and methods recited in the dependent claims are optional configurations and methods in the inventions recited in the independent claims. The configurations and methods of the embodiments corresponding to the configurations and methods recited in the dependent claims, as well as the configurations and methods recited only in the embodiments without being recited in the claims, are optional configurations and methods in the present invention. The configurations and methods recited in the embodiments when the recitation of the claims is broader than the recitation of the embodiments are also optional configurations and methods in the present invention, in the sense that they are examples of the configurations and methods of the present invention. In either case, by being recited in the independent claims, they become essential configurations and methods of the present invention.

[0016] The effects described in the embodiments are effects obtained when the configurations of the embodiments are provided as examples of the present invention, and are not necessarily effects that the present invention has.

[0017] When there are multiple embodiments, the configurations disclosed in each embodiment are not limited to each embodiment, but can be combined across the embodiments. For example, a configuration disclosed in one embodiment may be combined with another embodiment. Also, configurations disclosed in multiple embodiments may be collected and combined.

[0018] The problems described in this disclosure are not publicly known problems, but have been independently discovered by the inventors, and together with the configuration and method of the present invention, these facts affirm the inventive step of the invention.

[0019] 1. First Embodiment (1) Configuration of Wireless Communication Network System The configuration of a wireless communication network system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0020] The wireless communication network system 1 includes a transmitting device 100, a relay device 200, a gateway device (hereinafter, referred to as a GW device) 300, a sensor device 400, and a server device 500, which are mainly connected via a wireless communication network. The configuration of each device will be described later. In the following embodiment, the transmitting device 100, the relay device 200, the GW device 300, and the sensor device 400 will be referred to as each device. Furthermore, since the transmitting device 100, the relay device 200, and the GW device 300 are all devices having communication functions, they will be referred to as communication devices as a concept that encompasses all of the devices.

[0021] In the wireless communication network, the transmitter 100 and the relay device 200, the relay devices 200 with each other, and the relay device 200 and the GW device 300 each communicate using a wireless communication method. Examples of wireless communication methods include wideband cellular communications known as 3G, 4G, and 5G, as well as low-power, long-distance wireless communication methods (LPWA (Low Power Wide Area)) that consume little power and enable long-distance communication. The LPWA method is a communication method that mainly uses the 800 / 900 MHz band known as the sub-gigabit band. Examples of such methods include enhanced machine type communication (eMTC) proposed by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) (registered trademark), narrow band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) optimized for smaller amounts of data communication, SIGFOX (registered trademark) developed by Sigfox, and LoRa (registered trademark) developed by Semtech, but are not limited to these. PARCA (registered trademark), which is characterized by broadcast-type two-way communication proposed by the applicant of the present application, can also be used. In addition, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) can also be used as all or part of the wireless communication method.

[0022] The connection between the sensor device 400 and the communication device may be either a wireless communication method or a wired communication method. In this embodiment, the connection is made using a wired communication method using a universal serial bus (USB). The connection between the GW device 300 and the server device 500 may also be either a wireless communication method or a wired communication method. In this embodiment, the GW device 300 is connected to the Internet using a wireless communication method using 4G (LTE) or 5G, and is connected to the server device 500 via the Internet. However, if a wired communication method can be used at the installation location of the GW device 300, the GW device 300 may be directly connected to the Internet via a wired LAN, for example.

[0023] The sensor device 400 is a device that transmits data detected by sensors mounted on the sensor device 400 or sensors connected to the sensor device 400 to the transmission device 100 via USB. The types of sensors and the types of data will be described in detail later.

[0024] The transmitting device 100 transmits data received from the sensor device 400 via USB to the relay device 200 .

[0025] The relay device 200 transmits data received from the transmission device 100 or another relay device 200 to another relay device 200 or a GW device 300 .

[0026] The GW device 300 transfers data received from the relay device 200 to the server device 500 via the Internet. The GW device 300 also transmits various commands transmitted from the server device 500 to the relay device 200. The various commands are commands related to the control of the relay device 200 and the transmission device 100, such as a frequency setting command. The frequency setting command is a command to instruct the setting of frequencies used by the wireless communication network system 1, and instructs, for example, each frequency to be used for transmitting and receiving data in the relay device 200.

[0027] The server device 500 accumulates the data received from the GW device 300 and analyzes it using various programs. Although not shown in Fig. 1 , the owner or user of the wireless communication network system 1 can use the data collected by the server device 500 by accessing the server device 500 using a general-purpose communication device such as a personal computer (PC), a smartphone, or a mobile phone.

[0028] In the following embodiments, the transmitting device 100, the relay device 200, the GW device 300, and the sensor device 400 are described as different devices. However, these devices may have the same configuration. For example, by incorporating the functions of each device into a single housing, the device can be used as the sensor device 400, the transmitting device 100, the relay device 200, or the GW device 300.

[0029] Although FIG. 1 illustrates the wireless communication network system 1 in which three relay devices 200 are arranged between the transmitting device 100 and the GW device 300, the number of relay devices 200 is arbitrary.

[0030] In this embodiment, the data transmission method of the transmitting device 100 and the relay device 200 employs a broadcast method that does not specify a destination. By employing the broadcast method, it is not necessary to predetermine the relay source or destination when there are multiple relay devices 200, which makes it easier to install the relay devices 200. When performing two-way communication, namely communication from the sensor device 400 to the GW device 300 and communication from the GW device 300 to the relay device 200, the transmitting device 100, or the sensor device 400, the communication direction may be determined by time division, for example. However, a unicast method or multicast method that specifies a destination may also be employed.

[0031] (2) Configuration of the Sensor Device 400 and Communication Devices, etc. The configurations of the transmission device 100, the relay device 200, the GW device 300, and the sensor device 400 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates the external appearance and installation of each device. The transmitter 100 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing, a solar panel 11, an SMA (Sub Miniature Type A) terminal 12, a USB connector 13, a pole ring arm 14, and a groove 15. FIG. 2 shows a state in which a window is attached to the top of the solar panel 11, with the solar panel 11 positioned below the window. FIG. 2 also shows a state in which a cover is attached to the SMA terminal 12, with the SMA terminal 12 located below the cover. An LPWA pole antenna can be connected to the SMA terminal 12, if necessary. The transmitter 100 also includes a secondary battery, an LPWA plate antenna, and a control unit (not shown) within its housing. The control unit is composed of one or more semiconductor devices and controls wireless communication, USB communication, charging and discharging of the secondary battery, UPS function, etc. The transmitter 100 is powered by power generated by the solar panel 11. Furthermore, the power generated by the transmitting device 100 may be supplied to another device (for example, the sensor device 400) via a USB cable connected to the USB connector 13.

[0033] The relay device 200 and the GW device 300 have an SMA terminal 12, a USB connector 13, and a pole ring arm 14 in a roughly rectangular parallelepiped housing. These devices do not have a solar panel 11, and therefore do not have a groove 15. The internal configuration of the relay device 200 and the GW device 300 is basically the same as the internal configuration of the transmission device 100. The relay device 200 and the GW device 300 are supplied with power from a primary battery built into each device or via a USB cable connected to the USB connector 13.

[0034] Whether or not to provide the solar panel 11 to the transmitting device 100, the relay device 200, and the GW device 300 may be selected depending on the situation of the location where each device is installed. In other words, if each device can receive power from an external source, it is not necessarily necessary to provide the solar panel 11. Also, if each device is installed in an environment where it can receive sunlight, it is sufficient to provide the solar panel 11. In other words, by preparing two types of housings, one with a solar panel 11 and the other with a solar panel 11, as shown in FIG. 2, either housing can be used as the housing of the communication device (transmitting device 100, relay device 200, and GW device 300) depending on whether solar power generation is necessary or possible.

[0035] The sensor device 400 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing and includes a USB connector 13, a pall ring arm 14, a sensor hole 16, and a dummy hole 17. The sensor device 400 also includes a sensor and a control unit (not shown) inside. The control unit controls USB communication and controls sensors installed inside or outside the sensor device 400. In this embodiment, the sensor device 400 includes a sensor inside, but an external sensor may be connected via the USB connector 13 without an internal sensor. Examples of sensors installed inside the sensor device 400 include gas sensors (CO2, NH3, etc.), illuminance sensors, and temperature / humidity sensors. Examples of sensors installed outside the sensor device 400 include a water level sensor, a water temperature sensor, a soil temperature / humidity sensor, and a voltage sensor. Of course, in either case, other sensors may also be installed.

[0036] In this embodiment, the sensor device 400 is driven by receiving power from the transmitter device 100 via the USB connector 13. However, the sensor device 400 may also be provided with a solar panel 11 so that the sensor device 400 receives power from the solar panel 11. In this case, a groove 15 may be provided around the periphery of the solar panel 11.

[0037] The sensor hole 16 is a hole that connects the outside and inside of the sensor device 400. By having the sensor hole 16, the sensor provided inside the sensor device 400 can measure the environment outside the sensor device 400.

[0038] The dummy holes 17 are recesses provided on the outer surface of the sensor device 400. In other words, the dummy holes 17 do not communicate with the interior of the sensor device 400. For example, if a sensor is not provided inside the sensor device 400 but is provided outside the sensor device 400, the sensor holes 16 are unnecessary, and therefore the dummy holes 17 are provided. By providing the dummy holes 17, the design of the sensor device 400 can be unified regardless of the location where the sensor is provided. In addition, if the sensor is provided outside the sensor device 400, providing the dummy holes 17 instead of the sensor holes 16 can prevent water from entering the interior through the sensor holes 16.

[0039] The sensor device 400 may be built into the housing of the communication device. In particular, when the sensor is provided outside the sensor device 400, it is not necessary to separate the transmission device 100 and the sensor device 400, so the transmission device 100 and the sensor device 400 can be integrated, and one of two types of housings used for the communication device can be selected depending on whether solar power generation is necessary or possible.

[0040] Each device can be fixed to, for example, a metal pole via a pole ring arm 14. The pole can be installed so that the bottom end of the pole is buried in a location where the desired data can be acquired. The pole can be set up in, for example, fields, rivers, wilderness, mountains, stadiums, golf courses, etc. Alternatively, the pole can be fixed so that its long axis is horizontal. Examples of places where such installation is possible include livestock sheds such as cow sheds and chicken coops.

[0041] By placing each device, especially the communication device, at the top of the pole, communication can be carried out while avoiding obstacles such as undergrowth and trees located close to the ground, so the communication device can be installed in a location where a good wireless communication environment can be enjoyed.

[0042] (3) Structure for preventing spider webs from being built As described above, it is desirable to install a communication device at a higher position to avoid obstacles that may interfere with radio waves. Furthermore, if a solar panel 11 is included, it is desirable to install it at a higher position, since it is desirable to install it in a location that is less likely to be shaded. However, if the solar panel 11 is installed at a higher position, there is a higher possibility that the threads that spiders cast to build their feeding nests or spawning sites will land on the housing of the communication device, and if the feeding nests or spawning sites are built on the surface of the solar panel 11, power generation efficiency will decrease. Therefore, this section describes a structure for preventing spider webs from being built on the surface of the solar panel 11.

[0043] Fig. 3 is a plan view of a communication device (transmitting device 100 in this embodiment) having a solar panel 11, and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the same device. The transmitting device 100 has a solar panel 11 provided on one surface of a housing, and a concave groove 15 or hole 15 around the periphery of the solar panel 11. In this embodiment, the grooves 15 are provided "along" the four sides of the solar panel 11. More specifically, the grooves 15 provided along the four sides of the solar panel 11 are all provided so as to be continuous. Here, "along" may refer to either being in contact with the four sides of the solar panel or being spaced apart.

[0044] Spiders have a habit of building webs in concave areas such as grooves and holes rather than flat or convex areas in order to stabilize their feeding nests and breeding roosts. Therefore, by providing areas around the solar panel 11 where it is easier to build webs, it is possible to reduce the possibility of webs being built on the solar panel 11, and as a result, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the power generation efficiency of the solar panel 11. In other words, spiders will reach the grooves 15 before reaching the solar panel 11, which will encourage them to build their webs in the grooves 15, thereby preventing webs from being built on the solar panel 11.

[0045] In this embodiment, the curvature R of the groove 15 is 9 mm, and the length of the groove 15 in the thickness direction of the housing from one end a to the other end b, for example, the height X from the surface of the solar panel 11 to the surface S on which the solar panel 11 is not provided, is 3.6 mm. The curvature R is preferably 5 mm or more and 20 mm or less, and the height X is preferably 2 mm or more.

[0046] Such curvature R and height X make it possible to form a shape that makes it easy for spiders to spin webs and also makes it easy for an adult's fingers to wipe off webs that have spun in grooves 15. In particular, by forming grooves 15 so that all four sides are continuous, it is possible to eliminate routes for spiders to enter solar panel 11, and even if a spider web has spun in grooves 15, the spider web and other dirt can be efficiently removed by continuously tracing the four grooves with an adult's fingers.

[0047] The shape and position of the groove 15 may take various forms as long as it can be arranged around the solar panel 11. For example, the height X may be zero, in which case the solar panel 11 and the surface S are flush with each other, and only the groove 15 is recessed. Alternatively, only one side or only three sides may have a height X of 2 mm or more, and the remaining sides may have a height X of zero. Furthermore, the curvature R may not be provided, and the cross section may be square.

[0048] Also, as shown in Figure 5(a), the grooves 15 do not have to be continuous, and they may be arranged away from the solar panel 11. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 5(b), holes 15 may be used instead of the grooves 15, and the holes 15 may be evenly arranged around the solar panel 11. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5(c), both grooves 15 and holes 15 may be provided. Even when holes are used as shown in Figure 5(b) or 5(c), it is desirable that the curvature of the holes be 5 mm or more and 20 mm or less.

[0049] (4) Configuration for Enjoying a Good Wireless Communication Environment As described above, the communication device can be fixed to the top end of the pole using the pole ring arm 14. When a conductor such as a metal pipe or wiring cable is used for the pole, the problem of poor radio wave radiation characteristics arises when the pole antenna or plate antenna of the communication device is placed close to the pole. However, this embodiment makes it possible to suppress the deterioration of radiation characteristics. This will be explained below.

[0050] 2 and 3, a communication device of this embodiment (transmitting device 100, relay device 200, or GW device 300 in this embodiment) has a housing having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is fixed to a pole by a pole ring arm 14. The pole ring arm 14 has a pole ring part 141 for fixing the housing to the pole, and an arm part 142 that extends from the pole ring part 141 and is connected to the housing.

[0051] 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating the antenna structure of a communication device (transmitter 100, relay device 200, or GW device 300 in this embodiment) according to the present invention, and the relationship between the communication device and a pole. FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating the state in which the cover constituting the housing of the communication device according to the present invention has been removed to expose the interior. As shown in FIG. 6A, the communication device according to the present invention has an SMA terminal 12 (corresponding to a feed point) for connecting an LPWA-type pole antenna 16. An LPWA-type plate antenna 17 is also built into the housing of the communication device according to the present invention. The plate antenna 17 has an element 171 for transmitting and receiving radio waves. The plate antenna 17 is housed in a vertically upper position within the housing, with the element 171 positioned vertically upward. The plate antenna 17 and the SMA terminal 12 are connected by a coaxial cable.

[0052] The communication device of this embodiment can normally communicate using only the plate antenna 17, and does not necessarily need to connect the pole antenna 16. However, the pole antenna 16 can be added depending on the situation of the communication device. For example, the pole antenna 16 can be used when the device is used in a location where there is metal around the plate antenna 17, when an antenna with good characteristics is desired, when the antenna characteristics are reduced to shorten the communication distance, or when an omnidirectional antenna is desired.

[0053] When communication is performed using only the plate-like antenna 17, in order to minimize the effect on the antenna characteristics, it is desirable to install the communication device on the pole so that the bottom end of the element portion 171 is higher than the tip of the pole, as shown in Fig. 6(b). In other words, when the vertical distance from the bottom end of the element portion 171 to the tip of the pole is Y, Y > 0 cm, preferably Y > 1 cm.

[0054] When a pole antenna 16 is added and communication is performed using the pole antenna 16, in order to minimize the effect on the antenna characteristics, it is desirable that the distance (Z) between the pole and the feed point, i.e., in this embodiment, the distance between the major axis of the pole and the major axis of the pole antenna 16, be equal to or greater than ¼ wavelength of the radio wave used for communication, as shown in Fig. 6(c). For example, when the frequency of the radio wave used in the LPWA system is 925 Hz, it is desirable that the distance (Z) between the pole and the feed point be equal to or greater than 80 mm, which corresponds to ¼ wavelength.

[0055] In this embodiment, the housing of the communication device is mounted on a pole via the pole ring arm 14, so that it can be mounted at a distance equal to the length (W) of the arm portion 142 of the pole ring arm 14. For example, if the width of the housing of the communication device is 8 cm, the length (W) of the arm portion 142 may be set to 1 to 3 cm.

[0056] In addition, the housing of the communication device of this embodiment may be equipped with a short-range antenna, for example, used for Bluetooth or BLE communication, or a short-range antenna used for near-field communication (NFC) communication such as RFID or FeliCa (registered trademark).

[0057] With the above-described configuration of this embodiment, when the communication device of this embodiment is installed on a pole, the radiation characteristics of the antenna can be maintained at a good level compared to when the housing of the communication device is directly fixed to the pole.

[0058] The arm portion 142 can be used as a cord reel for winding up excess cable when connecting the communication device to another device (e.g., the sensor device 400) with a USB cable. Winding up the cable also prevents the pall ring portion 141 from accidentally opening. By providing the arm portion 142 on one side of the transmitting device 100, the thickness of the transmitting device 100 can be reduced.

[0059] The above configuration (4) can be understood as an invention (Invention 1) independent of the other configurations. That is, the communication device of Invention 1 is a communication device having a pole ring arm (14) having a pole ring part (141) for fixing to a pole and an arm part (142) extending from the pole ring part and connecting to the housing.

[0060] The pole ring arm 14 described in the configuration (4) above can be used not only for the communication device but also for fixing the sensor device 400. Figure 7 shows the specific structure and shape of the pole ring arm 14, as well as an example of its use.

[0061] The pall ring portion 141 is configured so that an upper case 144 and a lower case 145 can be opened and closed via a hinge 143. The upper case 144 has three screw holes 146, and the lower case 145 has an insert nut 147 at a position opposite the screw holes 146. The upper case 144 and the lower case 145 can be closed and fixed by inserting a thumb screw 1 into the screw hole 146 and turning it. By using the thumb screw 1, the communication device or sensor device 400 can be installed or removed by hand, even while wearing gloves, without using a screwdriver at the installation site.

[0062] Additionally, two screw holes 148 are provided in the upper case 144. By inserting thumbscrews 2 and 3 into the screw holes 148 and rotating them, the pole ring arm 14 can be fixed to the pole. By using thumbscrews 2 and 3, the communication device and sensor device 400 can be attached or detached by hand, even while wearing gloves, without using a screwdriver at the installation site.

[0063] Furthermore, a screw hole 149 is provided between the two screw holes 148. The screw hole 149 has the same diameter and pitch as the tripod screw of a camera. For example, if the tripod screw of a universal camera clip as shown in Figure 8 is inserted into the screw hole 149 of the sensor device 400 and fixed, the sensor device 400 can be installed in a location where it can be fixed with the universal camera clip.

[0064] 2, the USB connector 13 of the communication device or sensor device 400 of this embodiment has an opening facing vertically downward on the vertical lower surface of the housing of the communication device or sensor device 400. By providing the opening of the USB connector 13 in this direction, rain or snow will not directly hit the opening of the USB connector 13, thereby reducing the intrusion of water into the communication device or sensor device 400.

[0065] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the USB cable is also designed to reduce the intrusion of water into the communication device or sensor device 400. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the USB cable of this embodiment connected to the USB connector 13 of this embodiment. Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the procedure for connecting the USB cable of this embodiment to the USB connector 13 of this embodiment.

[0066] As shown in Figure 9, a USB cable is connected to a USB connector 13 consisting of an upper case and a lower case. A USB drip-proof cushion that covers the vicinity of the terminal end of the USB cable is inserted into the USB cable from the terminal side of the USB cable. The USB drip-proof cushion is preferably made of an elastic material such as rubber. A USB drip-proof cap is provided near the terminal side of the USB cable to secure the USB cable with the inserted USB drip-proof cushion to the USB connector 13. The USB drip-proof cap and the USB drip-proof cushion are fixed by engaging the convex portion of the USB drip-proof cushion with the concave portion of the USB drip-proof cap. Furthermore, the claws of the USB drip-proof cap are engaged with the protrusions of the upper and lower cases of the USB connector 13 to secure them.

[0067] Next, the procedure for connecting a USB cable to the USB connector 13 will be described. As shown in Fig. 10(a), first, a USB drip-proof cap is passed through the USB cable. Next, as shown in Fig. 10(b), a USB drip-proof cushion is inserted into the terminal side of the USB cable. Then, as shown in Fig. 10(c), the USB cable with the USB drip-proof cushion inserted is inserted into the USB connector 13 of the communication device or sensor device 400. Finally, as shown in Fig. 10(d), the USB drip-proof cap is inserted into the USB connector 13 and fixed.

[0068] According to the above configuration, by tightly attaching the USB drip-proof cushion to the USB cable, it is possible to make part B waterproof. In this state, when the USB cable is inserted into the USB connector 13 and the USB drip-proof cap is then attached to the main body, the convex part of the USB drip-proof cushion is pressed against the wall of the concave part of the USB drip-proof cap, making part C also waterproof. By sealing two locations, parts B and C, it is possible to prevent water from entering the USB connector 13 even when the USB cable is connected to the USB connector 13. Furthermore, because the USB cable is fixed to the USB connector 13 by the USB drip-proof cushion and the USB drip-proof cap, it is possible to make the USB cable less likely to come loose from the USB connector 13.

[0069] The above configuration (5) can also be understood as an invention (Invention 2) independent of the other configurations. That is, a communication device or sensor device of Invention 2 has a USB cable, a USB drip-proof cushion made of an elastic body provided so as to cover the vicinity of the terminal of the USB cable, and a USB drip-proof cap that secures the USB drip-proof cushion to the USB connector of the communication device or sensor device, wherein a convex portion provided on the USB drip-proof cushion engages with a concave portion provided on the USB drip-proof cap, and a protrusion provided on the USB connector engages with a claw portion of the USB drip-proof cap, thereby securing the USB cable to the USB connector.

[0070] Alternatively, the configuration of (5) can be understood as an invention (Invention 3) of a waterproof USB cable connected to a USB connector of a device. That is, the waterproof USB cable of Invention 3 has: a USB cable; a USB drip-proof cushion made of an elastic body provided so as to cover the vicinity of the terminal of the USB cable; and a USB drip-proof cap that secures the USB drip-proof cushion to a USB connector provided on the device side, wherein a convex portion provided on the USB drip-proof cushion engages with a concave portion provided on the USB drip-proof cap, and a protrusion provided on the USB connector engages with a claw portion of the USB drip-proof cap, thereby securing the USB cable to the USB connector.

[0071] (6) Design of the Sensor Device 400 and the Communication Device Figures 11 to 33 show a six-sided view and a reference perspective view of the communication device (transmitter 100) as an article, a six-sided view and a reference perspective view of the communication device (relay device 200 or gateway device 300) as an article, and a six-sided view and a reference perspective view of the sensor device 400 as an article. Note that the thin lines in the drawings indicate the contact points between plastic members when the communication device or sensor device 400 is assembled using these members, and do not represent the shape of the article. Therefore, such thin lines should not be evaluated as design features. Therefore, the thin lines in Figures 11 to 33 may be omitted from the design drawings, and omitting the thin lines does not change the gist of the design.

[0072] 2. Embodiment 2 When the communication device and sensor device 400 described in Embodiment 1 are installed on-site, three power supply methods are possible. The first method is to self-supply power using only the built-in solar panel. The second method is to generate power (12 V DC) from an external solar panel, store that power in a portable power source, and then convert it to 5 V DC before supplying it. The third method is to convert power from an AC 100 V power outlet to 5 V DC using an AC-DC conversion box and supply it. This method is primarily used for installation indoors in low-light conditions. In the livestock and aquaculture industries, even indoors, harsh environments often require dust and water resistance, making it a challenge to ensure the dust and water resistance of these devices, including cables. Furthermore, power outlets are often located high up indoors, so a major issue is how to stably install the AC-DC conversion box. Furthermore, if a power outlet leaks electricity, all equipment will shut down, so there is a need for safety measures that can detect this remotely before it happens and identify the location of the leak after it has occurred.

[0073] The waterproof smart plug of this embodiment will be described using Figure 34. The waterproof smart plug of this embodiment comprises a power plug housing, a plug blade, and a protrusion A provided on the outer periphery of the power plug housing on the plug blade side. The protrusion A is preferably made of a resilient material such as rubber. The protrusion A may be integrally molded with the power plug housing. The shape of the protrusion A may be determined to match the cross-sectional shape of the plug blade side of the power plug housing. For example, in the case of a power plug with a circular cross-section, as shown in Figure 34, the protrusion A is provided on the outer periphery to form a circular shape. In addition, in the case of a power plug with a square or elliptical cross-section, the protrusion A may be provided on the outer periphery to form a square or elliptical shape. The plug blades are two blades arranged parallel to each other, but the number of blades, the shape of the blades, and the position and direction of the blades may be changed depending on the country or region in which the waterproof smart plug is used. In addition to the plug blades, a ground terminal may also be provided.

[0074] A waterproof outlet compatible with a waterproof smart plug is composed of an insertion hole and a protrusion B. The protrusion B is shaped to fit into the protrusion A and has a cylindrical shape that rises from the plane of the waterproof outlet. In other words, when viewed perpendicularly to the plane of the waterproof outlet, the protrusion B has the same shape as the protrusion A but is slightly larger than the protrusion A. The protrusion B may be composed of a resilient material or a standard plastic material. Alternatively, if the protrusion B is composed of a resilient material, the protrusion A may be composed of a standard plastic material. Because at least the protrusion A or the protrusion B is composed of a resilient material, water can be prevented from entering the insertion hole or the protrusion blades from the surface where the protrusions A and B meet.

[0075] The power plug housing has an AC-DC conversion circuit, a Wi-Fi circuit, and a SW circuit. In addition, although not shown in FIG. 34, it also has a control unit that controls these circuits and the wetness detection means described below. The AC-DC conversion circuit is a converter that converts, for example, 100V AC to 5V DC. The Wi-Fi circuit is a circuit that communicates based on the communication standard defined in the IEEE 802.11 series of standards. The SW circuit is a circuit that switches the DC 5V output from the waterproof smart plug on and off. The on / off switching can be achieved by a control signal received from a remote location via the Wi-Fi circuit.

[0076] The power plug housing of this embodiment may further be provided with a wetness detection means. For example, electrode pattern 1 and electrode pattern 2 are provided spaced apart on the surface of the power plug housing where the insertion blades are provided. A predetermined potential difference is configured to exist between electrode pattern 1 and electrode pattern 2. When water penetrates this surface and the surface becomes wet, the wetness detection means detects the current flowing due to a short circuit between electrode pattern 1 and electrode pattern 2, thereby detecting that water has penetrated the surface. The detection result is transmitted from the Wi-Fi circuit unit to a remote location. Furthermore, when the detection result is output, the control unit may control the SW circuit unit to turn off the DC 5V output.

[0077] The power plug housing of the waterproof smart plug is provided with a USB connector into which a USB cable can be plugged, allowing the USB cable to be connected. Instead of providing the USB connector on the power plug housing, the USB cable may be integrated into the power plug housing. This configuration prevents the USB cable from coming loose from the USB connector, and, combined with the structure of the communication device described in (5) of the first embodiment, prevents operation from stopping due to the USB cable coming loose.

[0078] The waterproof smart plug of this embodiment integrates an AC-DC conversion circuit, a Wi-Fi circuit, and a SW circuit within the power plug housing, allowing the power output to be turned on and off remotely. Furthermore, the power plug housing itself is provided with a protrusion A, providing dust and water resistance for all of these circuits. Furthermore, the power plug housing has a protrusion A and the waterproof outlet has a protrusion B, ensuring a strong and stable attachment of the power plug housing to the waterproof outlet and achieving dust and water resistance between the power plug housing and the waterproof outlet. Furthermore, the power plug housing is provided with a wetness detection means, allowing for detection of wetness on the contact surfaces between the power plug housing and the waterproof outlet. Furthermore, the Wi-Fi circuit can transmit detection results to a remote location, allowing for remote advance detection of potential ground faults, identification of plugs with potential ground faults, and remote turning off the output of the waterproof smart plug. Additionally, by integrating a USB cable into the power plug housing of this embodiment, dust and water resistance can be ensured from the waterproof outlet to a USB connector installed in a communication device, etc.

[0079] The configuration of the above-described embodiment 2 can also be understood as an independent invention (invention 4). That is, the waterproof smart plug of invention 4 has a power plug housing, a blade provided on one surface of the power plug housing, and a protrusion A provided on the outer periphery of the one surface, and the power plug housing has, inside it, an AC-DC conversion circuit that converts AC current input from the blade into DC current, a Wi-Fi circuit that transmits and receives signals to and from the outside, and a SW circuit that switches ON / OFF the output of power after conversion by the AC-DC conversion circuit.

[0080] 3. Summary The features of the communication device, the sensor device, and the devices and components related to these devices in each embodiment of the present invention have been described above.

[0081] The terms used in each embodiment are merely examples and may be replaced with synonymous terms or terms having the same functions.

[0082] The block diagrams used to explain the embodiments classify and organize the device configuration by function. The blocks representing each function can be realized by any combination of hardware or software. Furthermore, because they represent functions, the block diagrams can also be understood as disclosures of method inventions and program inventions that realize the methods.

[0083] The order of the functional blocks that can be understood as the processes, flows, and methods described in each embodiment may be changed as long as there are no constraints, such as one step utilizing the results of another step that precedes it.

[0084] The terms first, second, through Nth (N is an integer) used in each embodiment and in the claims are used to distinguish between two or more configurations or methods of the same type, and do not limit the order or superiority or inferiority.

[0085] The devices in the wireless communication network system of this embodiment can be used for agriculture and river management, as well as for searching for missing persons and monitoring agricultural workers. Each device may also be mounted on a moving object such as a vehicle or drone.

Claims

1. A communication device (100, 200, 300) that communicates using power generated by a solar panel (11), the communication device having a housing, the solar panel provided on one side of the housing, and a concave groove (15) or hole (15) provided around the solar panel.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the grooves are provided along the four sides of the solar panel.

3. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the grooves provided along the four sides of the solar panel are all continuous.

4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the curvature of the groove is 20 mm or less.

5. The communication device (100, 200, 300) according to claim 1, further comprising a pole ring arm (14) having a pole ring portion (141) for fixing to a pole, and an arm portion (142) extending from the pole ring portion and connected to the housing.

6. The communication device according to claim 5, wherein the length of the arm is 1 to 3 cm.

7. The communication device (100, 200, 300) according to claim 1, which has a housing having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and an opening for a USB connector is provided vertically downward on the lower surface of the housing.

8. A communication device (100, 200, 300) according to claim 7, further comprising: a USB cable; a USB drip-proof cushion made of an elastic body arranged to cover the vicinity of a terminal of the USB cable; and a USB drip-proof cap for fixing the USB drip-proof cushion to the USB connector, wherein a convex portion of the USB drip-proof cushion engages with a concave portion of the USB drip-proof cap, and a protrusion portion of the USB connector engages with a claw portion of the USB drip-proof cap, thereby fixing the USB cable to the USB connector.

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